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ABNRML1 Profile
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Homestead Ideas


We are getting ready to look for some land in the country. I would like to hear everyones thoughts and ideas on homesteading. How much land is enough? What animals would be good to start with? Just general thoughts would be great. We want enough land to build a small house and raise some goats and chickens and be able to put out a decent size garden. I was thinking somewhere about 3-5 acres. Thanks everyone.


Animal

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"I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority." - E. B. White
10/23/2007, 12:07 am Link to this post Send Email to ABNRML1   Send PM to ABNRML1
 
Firlefanz Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


I've never homesteaded ... so all I can say is to repeat what I read about that since a homestead has been in my dreams for a long time.

If you can get hold of the books of John Seymore, they are a great source of how to plan a homestead. (He's British, though, don't know if they are around for you.)

He says that something like 4 to 8 acres is good for a self-sufficient place - that gives you room for a bit of wood, too. If you're going for goats, you probably don't want a cow for milk. Goats, however, are a huge danger for any fruit trees, if you plan on a small orchard, you need to protect it very well.

I very much like what Ranting Hobbit does with his Potbellies - use them to "plow" the garden parts you want turned and fertilized, feed them kitchen scraps (which is not enough food, but a good way to use them), and let them roam until you want to eat one. Not sure you want pigs, though. For me, they'd be an essential part of farm life.

From all I gather, fences are the most expensive part of starting a homestead. When we had geese, we used a wire mesh fence that could be hooked to metal posts, allowing us to change the size of the "pasture", or just opening it up in winter. Maybe that'll be a good idea to use for goats as well, although they might be able to hook under it with their horns and escape. Not sure - ask the goat people here.

I hope that'll help you a bit already. Land size always, always depends on quality, too.

Last edited by Firlefanz, 10/23/2007, 5:57 am


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Saijen SilverWolf Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


Some type of water source is also essential. A creek, pond, spring....best if you can find a place with all weather water source, but if not, a wet weather one will do in a pinch.
We don't exactly homestead here, but our landlord raises cattle. He has approximately 50 head on a little over 100 acres, with 3 ponds, 2 creeks and a spring. More than enough room. If you're doing goats, be sure you have some shade for them, but OUTSIDE their enclosure....close enough to give them shade. They'll eat the bark off of trees, and that ends up destroying the tree. A good place to get some info is your local Farmer's Co-Op, on things like fences, feed, etc.
Garden size can really vary, depending on how many in a family, and how much of your own stuff you want to produce. We usually have a pretty good sized garden, at least 50' x 30' Find out what grows good in the soil where you plan on planting. We can't get carrots to grow here, and we have a problem with some other stuff, but it'll come up if we coax it just right.

You'll have to keep us informed of how things are going on this....

And...how are things? Everyone feeling any better there?

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RantingHobbit Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


Thanks for the compliment Firle.

Abnorml 1 my homepage should give you some food for thought www.windridgefarm.us

I think the biggest mistake a lot of homesteaders do is taking on more than they can chew too fast and having to rely on others for too much. When you have big animals you WILL need help or a lot of equipment. Start small and go from there. If you are in the suburbs and are planning a farm in the same region, then plant a few things at your house just to see how they do. Nut trees take up to 15 years to produce, but you should see within a couple years if you've found a type that will thrive there. Even if you move away before the trees produce, you will have helped the environment in the long run.

Another mistake people make is trying to compete with the mega-agri-businesses. Don't try to make a living off selling organic produce right away. Most people in the country simply won't pay 10 dollars a pound for organic vegetables when walmart has them for 1/10th that. To most people a carrot is a carrot. Start off aiming for growing into self sufficiency first and maybe selling excess and building a customer base after that. If you want to do it to make money, you will need a niche. If it's for personal peace of mind, then there is more leeway.

Most exotic animals are exotic for a reason. Don't get trapped in livestock pyramid schemes of a lot of money for a small animal. Like my potbellies. At fifty dollars apiece for initial breeding stock, that's something to start with on a homesteading scale. However, paying 800 bucks for something that produces 50 pounds of meat is simply ridiculous. the same goes for llamas, miniature cattle etc. Also don't forget one of the biggest hidden costs with livestock...veterinary bills. Ask any breeder from whom you might be buying, and ask breeders from different parts of the country who know you won't be buying from them, to double check. The biggest thing is to know yourself. Be honest with yourself about how much time you will be able and willing to devote to whatever chore. Planning and research can save a lot of money and time and stress

Last edited by RantingHobbit, 10/27/2007, 3:40 pm
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Re: Homestead Ideas


http://budk.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_12+PGKC059

if you plan to do your own butchering here's a link for a clearance butchering kit. The knives are really good. The saw is cheap, those blades snap easily, but the knives are tough, dishwasher safe, and it has a honing rod. I'm thinking of getting a spare kit just for when the muslims come out to buy rams for their annual sacrifice. More knives would make things a little easier.
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TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


Here's another vote to get John Seymour's book The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live it. Firle - they published an 'american' version about 10 or so years ago. Nothing much is different (except spelling and a few names for plants/vegetables) but it is widely available in the US now. Look at your library - mine has several copies!

I currently have an acre of land and I'm too busy to even handle that much! I have a full time job and I'm remodeling the house. The land is the perfect size for me - I have chickens and bees right now, and a vegetable garden. Next year I hope to add two miniature milk goats. That's probably all I'll do while still living in the city. But you'd be surprised what you can do with a little land. I think your idea of 3-5 acres is perfect. John Seymour lays out a 5 acre homestead in the book that looks like it could support a 5 person family with very little outside supplementation.

Good luck and tell us how its going on the search!

Marissa
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MagiCat Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


Yes, I got the Seymour book too, from my library.

I wouldn't call us a homestead. We have a big garden, and chickens. If I could take the plunge and commit to getting more tied down, I would be very very interested in goats (I love goat milk and cheese).

I read once (in countryside magazine) that many new homesteaders make the mistake of tearing down old outbuildings, that could be useful. We did that! I was a much different person when we came here (had only known the city) and we tore down a perfectly good chicken coop. Dumb! Oh well...live and learn emoticon

Good luck with your search -- it is exciting.
Cat
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RantingHobbit Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas



TexasMadness I have chickens and bees right now,
Marissa




How are the bees doing? We lost ours a few years ago. Although it meant no honey, there was no problem in pollination. There was a big and quick explosion in the native bees populations.


Last edited by RantingHobbit, 11/13/2007, 5:22 pm
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TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Homestead Ideas


I just started two hives this spring. They were started late because the supplier was filling orders for commercial operations that took big hits. So I didn't expect them to produce much excess honey.

One hive flourished immediately and still looks very strong. I could probably rob a gallon or so from it, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort. Next year I bet they will really have a huge crop.

The other hive never took off all that well. Not really sure what the difference is. I think they have enough honey to survive the winter (this is Texas after all!) but they might need supplemental feeding. If they don't take off in the spring, I'll order a new queen and see if she was the problem.

Hopefully next year I will bring in my first harvest. Can't wait!
11/13/2007, 5:31 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 


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